Mond bros



Dec. 22, 1925. F. HOVING TRANSPORT SYSTEM FOR PULVERIZED GOAL 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 22, 1922 Dec 22, 1925.-

HOVING TRANSPORT SYSTEM FOR PULVERIZED GOAL 3 sheets-sheet 2 Filed May 22, 1922 Dec. 22, 1925.

- F. HOVING TRANSPORT SYSTEM FOR PULVERIZED COAL Filed May 22, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 3' Patented Dec. 22, 1925 UNITED, s'rpcrrs PATENT OFFICE.

FRITZ HOVING, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO RAY- MOND BROS. ENGINEERING co -or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ELI- NOIS.

TRANSPORT SYSTEM FOR PULVERIZED COAL.

' Application filed May 22, 1822. Serial No. 562,853.

To all-whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRITZ HovlNc. a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, in the countyof Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Transport System for Pulverized Coal; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full," clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the numerals of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to a system of pneumatic conveyance for transporting pulverized coal tothe furnaces where it is to be burned.

It is an object of the present invention to secure a more efiicient mixture of air and coal.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a container in which the air and coal shall be mixed with convenient means for manipulating the valves to regulate the filling and emptying again of the container.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such an arrangement of the air delivery pipes within the container that the coal and air therein will be thoroughly stirred before being delivered from the container. -v,.It.is a further object of thisinvention to provide a means by which the conduit leading from the container -to the furnaces shall be cleared of coal each time that it is necessary of adding more coal.

Other and further important objects of the invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the drawings. and specification.

The invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front view of the apparatus as a whole.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the container, with the connections thereto.

Figure 3 is a section of the upper .part of the container. t

' Figure 4 is a corresponding section of the lower part of the container.

Figure 5 is a section upon the line 5,5

of Figure 4.

to open the container for the purpose Figure 6 is an enlarged detail" view, being substantially a horizontal section through the four-way fixture shown in Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a section upon the line 7 7 of Figure 6.

As shown on the drawings;

The container for the coal and air is made up of a cylindrical base 1 having a lower cylindrical wall 2 and an upper cylindrical wall 3 which overlap and are joined together at 4. The'lower end of the tank is closed bya convex bottom 5, and the upper end is closed by a convex top 6. Both the bottom and the top are connected to their respective cylindrical portions by a lap joint. 7 i

In the central part of the upper end 6 is a fitting including a tra door 7 which forms an air-tight closure or the aperture through which the coal is introduced. The

mechanism for manipulating this trap door forms no part of the invention covered in this application and therefore is not further described. Above the tank is a funnel 8, the lower end of which is closed by a valve 9. The funnel leads from the coal bin (not shown) and mechanism for controlling the valve 9, not being a part of the invention covered by this application, is not further described. It is sufiicient to say that the valve 9 and the trap door 7 are both manipulated from a position near the bottom of the container, as may be seen at 10 in Figure 1.

At His shown a flexible connection by which the apparatus shown in Figure-1 may be connected to any suitable source of supply forcompressed air. A valve 12 to which the'flexible connection 11 leads serves to cut off the compressed air when itsflow is not desired. The valve 12 is connected to the left hand arm 13 of a four-way fixture. In the center of this fixture isrotatablymounted a"valve 15 which is manipulated by a handle 16. .The valve 15 has a large bore '17 which is adapted to connect two diametrically opposite armsof the fixture, and a small passage 18 at right angles to the bore. 17. From the upper arm 19 of the fixture '-the to of the container through the cover 6, as s own at 23.

From the right hand arm 24 of the fixture va-pipe 25 goes to a T connection 26 which, by means of a second; T connection 27,21fi'0rds a line going to three entrance points in the tank. The lower one 30 of these entrance points is reached without passing through the T 27. As shown in Figure 4, the entrance through the point 30 is along a pipe 31 in the interior of the tank. The pipe 31 is led to a point very near the bottom of the tank 1 and near the end is turned upward, as shown at in Figure 4. In line with the end '32 of the pipe 31 is a funnel-shaped entrance 33 to the delivery pipe 34. The delivery pipe34, as shown in Figure 1, goes to a point above the top of the tank 1 and is there supplied with a flexible connection 35 by which it may be united to the transport line leading to the several furnaces.

The branches of the pipe 26 which depart from the T 27 go to entrance point-s 36 and 37 situated diametrically opposite one another. In order to so locate these entrance points, one of the branch pipes 38 is of considerable length and passes nearly half to that 0 way around the-tank 1. The other branch pipe 39 is'conveniently made short. The pipe leading to the entrance point 36 enters the tank as shown in Figure 4 by means of a pipe-40 which is directed obliquely inward and downward- The pipe 38, on the other hand, entering at 37, is directed obliquely inward and upward as shown at 41. The connection between the pipes leading to the entrance points and the respective pipes within the tank by which they are given their specific directions, is in each case by means of a fixture consisting of a patch 43, secured to the surface of the tank 1 and covering the entrance hole, and a coupling for uniting the inner and outer pipes rising from the atch as a pedestal and constitutin the b0 y of the fixture.

. In each of t e pipes to the several en'- trancepoints a manually operated valve 44 is inserted. If desired, this valve may be made a part of the fixture just mentioned.

'But, as shown at'44", this valve is located at a considerable'distance from the entrance point andso would naturally not be made a part of the fixture.

The lower or remaining arm 46 of the four-armed fixture is connected by means of a pipe 47 with the pipe 34, the j unetion preferably being made near the top of the tank,

as is shown by the Y fixture and the union at 48 in Figure 1.

In the operation ofthe device, starting with the ressure within the tank 1 equal f the atmosphere, t he air valve 7 and the coal valve 9 are both opened and coal descends from the funnel 8 through the o ening 7- into the tank 1. When the tank has been filled to the proper height,

manipulation from the point 10 closes the coal valve 9 and then the air valve 7 The valve 12 may then be moved to admit compressed air and the valve 15 moved to the position shown in Fig. 7 so that the f compressed air will pass from the source of supply into the branch pipes leading to the several discharge air pipes 31, 40 and 41. The airjets entering the tank through pipes 40, 41 are directed in opposite directions so that by impinging against the powdered fuel and the sides of the tank,,they describe a circular path and thereby set up an agitation of the pulverized fuel so as to separate the particles thereof and produce a rich mixture of fuel and air within the tank. The air introduced in the tank through the pipe 31 is directed toward the funnel shaped end 33 of the fuel discharge \pipe 34 so as to mix with the pulverized fuel and carry the same into the pipe 34 and .thence into the transport line. While the valve 15 is in the above position the small port 18 thereof communicates with the pipe 47 so as to direct a current of compressed air into the upper portion of the pipe 34,

wh'ereuponit enters into the mixture of fuelthe fuel, reaches a predetermined point, such air pressure may be, and preferably 1s,- re-' duc'ed by moving the valve 15 to a position in which-the passa e 17 thereof will connect the pipes 20 and 47. In this changed position of the valve, the air and fuel in suspension in the tank pass out of the tank through pipe 20, valve passage 17 and pipe 47 to the transport line. The small port 18, in this position of the valve, communicates with the source of compressed air and directs a jet,

of air into the passage 17 of the valve, which jet of air mixes with the outflowing mixture of air andfuel, and assists in "carrying the particles of fuel to the transport line. As soon. as the pressure in the tank has been reduced, so that the jets of air from the pipes 40, 41 will again agitate the material,

the valve 15 is again moved to a position in whlch the source of air pressure is connected with the pipes 31, 40, 41, whereupon the fuel is again discharged through the pipe 47 in the'manner above described. 1 At the beginning of the action, whereby the air pressure in the'tank above the fuel is relieved, the air passing out of the tank through the pipe 20 is laden with a good deal of coal dust and the supply to the transport line is about the same character as during the ordinary operations. But as the coal in the tank settles less and less dust will be delivered through the exit point 23 into the pipe 20 and air with less and less coal in it will be delivered into the pipe 47. Because air is not longer being blown in through pipes 40 and 41, the contents of the tank are not being stirred. Consequently the coal settles very rapidly. At the same time air passes from the source of compressed air through the flexible connection 11, the valve 12, the arm 13, the passage 18 and the bore 17 into the arm46 and also the pipe 47 and 48. Air will not pass from the small bore passage 18 through the bore 17 and arm 19 into the arm 20 against the current first described because the pressure in the tank 1 will not fall much below the pressure of the supply for compressed air. Because the area of the cross section of the passage 18 is small compared with that of the other pipes mentioned, the pressure in the tank may become slightly less than that of the source. The air which enters through the small bore 18 will assist in driving the last of the coal dust remaining in the pipe 47 or in the upper end of the pipe 32L on into the transport line and then will assist in sweeping out the transport line itself.

\Vhen these pipes are free from coal dust, this flow ,is stopped by closing the valve 12.

\Vhen the supply of compressed air is cut ofl there will continue to be a connection between the tank 1 and the transport line so that the pressure in the tank 1 will fall to atmospheric pressure. When this has occurred, a new supply of coal may be admitted through the valve 9 and the air valve 7 as first explained and'the tank a ain filled to the proper level with coal. T e operations are then repeated;

I am aware that numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide 'range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted otherwise than necessitated by the prior. art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination, a tank, means'for admitting powdered fuel 'to said tank, a source of supply of compressed air, a control valve,

a connection from the source of compressedair tosaid control valve, a connection from theupper part of the tank to said control valve, a delivery line, a connection from the lower part ofthe tank to the delivery line,

a connection from said control valve to said delivery line, and branch connections leading from said control valve to various entrance points in said tank, said control valve having ports whereby in one position of .said valve compressed air is introduced into the tank at various points and in another position of said control valve the interior of said tank above the fuel therein is confor the purpose described.

valve in the latter position also connecting said source of compressed air to said delivery line, the last named connection including a restricted passage through said control valve.

2. In combination, a tank for containing a quantity of pulverized fuel, means for discharging fuel from said tank comprising a fuel discharge pipe, a source of supply of compressed air, a pipe connnunicating with the interior of said tank and adapted to introduce air into said tank to force the fuel through said discharge pipe, a control valve interposed between said latter pipe and the source of compressed air for-.con- 80 trolling theintroduction of ail-into said "tank and pressure relief pipes connecting said control valve with the upper portion of said tank and wit-l1,said fuel discharge pipe; said valve being provided with a passage which in one position of the valve directs air into the tank and in another position of the valve connects the upper portion of said tank with said fuel discharge pipe,-

3. In combination, a tank for containing a quantity of pulverized fuel, means for dis charging the fuel from said tank comprising a fuel discharge pipe opening into the tank near the bottom thereof, a source of supply of compressed air, a pipe communicating with the interior of said tank adjacent the inlet to said discharge pipe and adapted to introduce air into said tank to agitate the fuel therein and to force the same through said discharge pipe, a control valve interposed between the latter pipe and the source of compressed air for controlling the introduction of air into said tank, and pressure relief pipes connecting said control valve with the upper portion of said tank and with said fuel discharge pipe; said 'valve being provided with a passage which in one position of the valve directs'air into connects the upper portion of saidtank with said fuel discharge pipe, for the purpose described. v i y 4. In combination, a tank for containing a quantity of pulverized fuel, means for discharging the uel from said tank comprising a fuel discharge pipe 0 ening into the tank near the bottom thereof: a source of supply of compressed air, a plurality of pipes communicating with the interior of-said tank at different points and adapted to introduce jets of compressed air ,into said tank in different directions to agitate the fuel therein and to force the same through said d-is-.. charge pipe, one of the pipes discharging into the tank adjacent the inlet to the discharge pipe, a control valve interposed be tween these pipes and the source of compressed air for controlling the introduction of air into said tank, and pressure relief a quantity of pulverized .fuel, means for discharging the fuel from said tank comprising a fuel discharge pipe opening into the tank near the bottom thereof, a source of supply of compressed air, a plurality of .pipes communicating withsaid source of compressed air and with the interior of said tank and adapted to introduce jets of compressed air into said tank to agitate the fuel therein and to force the same through said discharge pipe, a control valve for controlling the introduction of air into said tank through said pipes, and'pipes connecting said control valve with the upper portion of said tank and with said fuel discharge pipe; said valve being formed with a passage way which in one position of the valve directs air from said source of supply into the tank and into said pipe from said valve to said fuel discharge pipe, and in another position of the valve connects the upper portion of the tank with said fuel discharge .pipe, for the purpose described.

6. In combination, a tank for containing a quantity of ulverized fuel, means for discharging the uel from said tank comprising a fuel discharge pipe opening into the tank near the bottom thereof, a source of supply of compressed air, a plurality of. pipes comleading pressed air into said tank to agitate the fuel therein and to force the same through said discharge pipe, a control valve for controlling the introduction of air intosaid tank through said pipes, and pipes connecting said control valve with the upper portion of said tank and with said fuel discharge pipe; said valve being formed with a passage way which in one. position of the valve directs air from said source of supply into the tank and in another position of the valve connects the-upper.portion of the tank with said fuel discharge pipe and with another passage way which in either of the aforesaid positions of the valve connects the source of air supply with the connection between said valve and said fuel discharge pipe, for the purpose described.

7. The combination with a blow tank for pneumatic conveying mechanism for pow dered substances, of a transport line leading from said tank, an air supply conduit, other conduits leading respectively from said first named conduit to the top and bottom of said tank, ,a conduit leading to said transport line in advance of the entrance end thereof, and a valve arranged to selectively connect two of said air conduits, whereby the valve in one position directs air from said supply conduit into the bottom of said tank vand in another position directs air from the top of the tank through the said conduit leading to the said transport line.

In testimony whereof I' have hereunto subscribed my name.

FRITZ HOVING. 

